Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is conducting a curbside pickup zone pilot at strategic locations on Bethesda Avenue at Bethesda Row. 

Locations at Bethesda Row were chosen due to the critical mass of restaurants and retailers that create high rates of activity and congestion. The zones have adjacent regulatory signage installed to clearly communicate the zones’ locations and zone-specific decals will be placed on the meter posts to further underscore their purpose. There's a time limit of 15 minutes enabling turnover and quick access to the businesses. Enforcement policy that is applied at other meters is applied to these meters with customers expected to pay the hourly rate at the meter or via mobile payment. 

The objective of the zones is to support services in crowded areas where on-street parking is in high demand and supply is limited. MCDOT will monitor utilization and effectiveness of the zones through data collected by sensors on the meters. The zones will be deployed for a minimum of three months to allow for sufficient collection of data. As the pilot draws to an end, MCDOT will engage with key stakeholders and local businesses in addition to reviewing collected data.  If the pilot is deemed successful MCDOT will maintain the zones until further notice.  

• Curbside Pickup Zones: May be used for pickup and drop-off of passengers, retail and restaurant pickups and short-term loading and unloading needs. Vehicles may be parked in these zones for up to 15 minutes.
• No Parking: Similar to the curbside pickup zones, this zone can be used for most any need. Stopping is limited to 15 minutes and the driver is permitted to leave the vehicle provide the vehicle's flashers are on.
• No Standing: A vehicle may stop or halt in this zone momentarily, but the driver is not permitted to leave the vehicle and the flashers must be on. These zones are primarily intended for picking and dropping off passengers expeditiously.
• No Stopping: Vehicles may not stop or halt here for any reason except when necessary to avoid conflict with othe traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.